Kentucky Wildcats guard Jarrod Polson (5) scored on a drive after an assist from Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) as the University of Kentucky played Maryland in the Barclays Center Classic held in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY., Friday, November 9, 2012. This is first half action. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff Herald-Leader

Kentucky Wildcats guard Jarrod Polson (5) scored on a drive after an assist from Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) as the University of Kentucky played Maryland in the Barclays Center Classic held in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY., Friday, November 9, 2012. This is first half action. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff Herald-Leader

Never miss a local story.

Then Maryland reeled off 15 straight points to turn a would-be mirth-filled laugh riot into basketball drama. Jake Layman's three-pointer over the outstretched hand of Willie Cauley-Stein — Maryland's first three-pointer of the game — reduced UK's lead to 53-51, prompting a timeout with 11:55 left.

UK Coach John Calipari, who could not recall calling a timeout during the Maryland run (he called one and there was a televison timeout, too) made a mass substitution: In came Ryan Harrow, Kyle Wiltjer and Archie Goodwin. Out went Polson, Cauley-Stein and Julius Mays.

After Maryland tied it at 53-53 with 11:40 left (the first time the Terps did not trail since the 14:01 mark of the first half), Wiltjer broke a six-minute scoreless streak with the three (part of a team-high 19-point game).

After the teams traded the lead four times within three minutes Kentucky inched ahead 64-63 on Polson's sneaky-Pete put-back with 5:10 left.

Later, Polson ripped the ball from Nick Faust's grip and somehow flipped a shot under James Padgett (who is six inches taller) to give the Cats a 67-63 lead with 3:44 left.

"What I tell Ryan is you have to be a high-energy guy," Calipari said of Polson's play. "That's all he did."

Related stories from Lexington Herald Leader

"Nah, I was nervous," he said. "I was pretty nervous (because of) not expecting to play that much."

On a night when Calipari and UK formally contributed a $1 million check for Hurricane Sandy relief, a punster might say that Kentucky weathered severe foul trouble in the first half. Four starters picked up two fouls within the first nine minutes.

Yet, with a physical and emotional boost from Polson, Kentucky outplayed Maryland to take a 49-36 halftime lead.

Poythress and Harrow picked up two fouls each before the first television timeout. Then Wiltjer and Noel also picked up second fouls by the 11-minute mark.

Somehow Kentucky did not trail the final 14:27 of the half with the margin in double digits the final 6:30.

Polson supplied the answer to any questions about UK's backup point guard play this night. He entered the game with 16:15 left and quickly made his mark. He cut to the basket, taking a pass from Cauley-Stein for a layup. A second basket came when he retrieved a long rebound and swished a 10-footer from the middle of the lane.

Less than seven minutes after entering the game, a player with one career basket had two. His 10 points represented three more than he'd score in his first two seasons.

"He was the whole key to the game," Turgeon said. "The kid gave them confidence, and he made the play of the game (taking the ball from Faust)."

Originally a walk-on who turned down a scholarship offer from Liberty, Polson set Kentucky free this night. "As a coach, nothing makes me happier," Calipari said.

The Maryland coach said hustle plays made the difference. Polson led the way.

In what might be the ultimate compliment, Turgeon said the game evolved into a matter of pride.

"Kentucky had national championship pride," he said. "They just wanted it a little more than we did."